The Publishers Association of New Zealand condemns the ban
on the sale and distribution of Ted Dawe’s Into the River.
As an Association we stand behind the right of Ted Dawe to
assert his freedom of expression through his prize-winning words, the right of
his publisher Penguin Random House to sell and distribute them, and especially
the right of readers to access and enjoy his much-lauded novel.
PANZ President, Melanie Laville-Moore stated, “Into the
River is a highly regarded piece of literature, charged with influencing and
changing the lives of many of its teenage male readers. This is an
unprecedented and extreme action by the Film and Literature Board of Review.
Banning books is not the New Zealand way.”
The Association applauds the New Zealand writing, library
and bookseller communities for standing firm on this most important of issues.
PANZ calls for a review of current legislation and encourages others to request
the same.
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